Taking a page from the Massachusetts Senate race playbook, Rep. John Tierney (D-Mass.) challenged Republican opponent Richard Tisei on Monday to sign a pledge barring outside groups from spending in their House race.

The pact mirrors one forged by Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and Democrat Elizabeth Warren in January to keep super-PACs and other groups from funneling millions of dollars into the race. The agreement has been used as a starting point for candidates in other races to consider adopting similar agreements to counter outside spending, including in Montana, California and Illinois.

***

Tisei responded to Tierney’s letter by pointing out that more than 40 percent of Tierney’s funding comes from PACs, and reminding voters that he issued his own challenge to Tierney in March to limit the influence of outside money.

“Admitting you have a problem is the first step of recovery,” Tisei said in a statement. “I haven’t depended on outside money.”

Tisei said he never heard back from his proposal to Tierney, but didn’t close the door on a future agreement.

“If John Tierney is now seriously interested in discussing the issue of outside spending – including by unions – in campaigns, I’m happy to have my campaign enter into discussions with him,” he said.

Rep. Tierney, GOP opponent mull outside-group pledge
By Josh Lederman, The Hill
05/07/12 06:27 PM ET